Learn from Former ATP & WTA Tour Professionals
A team of former professional players leads Sanwa X Tennis Academy. Each coach has competed at the highest levels of international tennis. When you train with us, you benefit from real elite competitive experience — coaching that cannot be replicated from textbooks alone.
Meet Our Tennis Coaches in Singapore
Coach Wataru Ochi – Head Coach & Founder
Coach Wataru Ochi is one of Singapore’s most experienced and internationally recognised tennis coaches. An All-Japan Championships quarterfinalist as a player, he has guided professionals to Grand Slam finals and ATP/WTA tour rankings. He coached Ai Sugiyama — former WTA World No. 8 in singles and a doubles World No. 1 — to the 2007 French Open doubles final, helped Go Soeda reach a career-high ATP World No. 47, and toured the WTA circuit with former World No. 4 Kimiko Date. He also supported Japan’s players at the 2012 London Olympics. In 2004 he founded Sanwa X Tennis Academy in Singapore, where he continues to lead the academy’s coaching philosophy and curriculum. Read his full playing and coaching record at his official coach profile.
Coach Kento Takeuchi – Director of Tennis & Former ATP Tour Professional
Coach Kento Takeuchi is the academy’s Director of Tennis and a former ATP Tour professional with an internationally documented playing record, listed on the official ATP Tour website and on Wikipedia. He reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of World No. 378 and a Japan national ranking of 7th, placed 4th in singles and 2nd in doubles at the All Japan Championships, and won two ITF Tour singles titles and four ITF Tour doubles titles alongside multiple All Japan Junior and Youth Championships. Drawing on this elite competitive experience, Coach Kento elevates players of all levels and ages. Explore his full profile and coaching philosophy at his official coach profile.
Coaching Credentials & Verified Experience
Every Sanwa X coach has competed at the professional level — not just trained athletes. This distinction matters. Our coaches understand what genuine high-performance tennis demands: mental resilience, physical conditioning, and technical precision. These qualities cannot be taught through recreational training alone.
- Coach Kento Takeuchi – Director of Tennis; former ATP Tour professional, career-high ATP World No. 378 (Japan National Ranking 7th). Verifiable on his ATP Tour profile and Wikipedia. 2 ITF singles titles, 4 ITF doubles titles; 4th at the All Japan Championships (singles).
- Coach Wataru Ochi – Head Coach & Founder since 2004; All-Japan Championships quarterfinalist. Personal coach to Ai Sugiyama (WTA No. 8), Go Soeda (ATP No. 47) and former WTA No. 4 Kimiko Date; guided Sugiyama to the 2007 French Open doubles final and supported Japan at the 2012 London Olympics.
Our Coaching Philosophy
At Sanwa X, we believe that the best tennis instruction comes from coaches who have personally experienced the demands of high-level competition. Our coaching philosophy combines technical precision with match-play realism — every drill is designed to translate directly into on-court performance.
We coach players holistically: developing not just strokes, but decision-making, mental resilience, and a deep love for the game. Our structured curriculum — from Starter through Tournament level — ensures every student has a clear progression pathway, regardless of their starting point.
Join a Class Led by Our Expert Coaches
Learn more on our About Us page or browse our group lesson schedule or enquire about private coaching. You can also explore our full range of tennis lessons in Singapore or contact us to speak with a coach directly. Both Coach Ochi and Coach Takeuchi are Japanese nationals who coach in Japanese and English — if that matters to you, read more about training with a Japanese tennis coach in Singapore. For advanced and competitive players, our coaches also collaborate with Coach XT, a leading tennis coach in Singapore, and parent academy TAG International Tennis Academy. Many of our adult students also cross-train at PickleChoo, Singapore’s premier public pickleball venues.
Coaching credentials on this page are publicly verifiable. Kento Takeuchi’s ATP career record is listed on the ATP Tour website and his ITF results in the ITF database. Coach Wataru Ochi’s WTA coaching record is confirmed via the WTA Tour website. Last reviewed: June 2026.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Tennis Coaches
Sanwa X is led by Head Coach Wataru Ochi — an All-Japan quarterfinalist and personal coach to ATP No. 47 Go Soeda, WTA No. 8 Ai Sugiyama, and former WTA No. 4 Kimiko Date — alongside Director of Tennis Kento Takeuchi, a former ATP Tour professional (career-high ATP World No. 378). Both have competed and coached at Grand Slam, Olympic, and ITF Tour level.
Yes. Both Coach Ochi and Coach Takeuchi teach private and group lessons at our NTU@one-north courts. Contact us to check current availability and book a session directly.
Yes. Our coaches teach players of all levels, from complete beginners to competitive tournament players. Every session is tailored to your current skill level, goals, and pace of learning.
All coaching credentials are publicly verifiable. Kento Takeuchi’s ATP record is listed on the ATP Tour website and his results in the ITF database. Coach Ochi’s WTA coaching record is confirmed via the WTA Tour website.